HomeMy WebLinkAbout02-19-13 Wrecker Committee Meeting and Public Hearing minutesCity of La Porte
Wrecker Committee
Minutes of February 19, 2013
Committee Members Present: Planning Director Tim Tietjens (designated representative of the City
Manager), Lt. Gary Rice (designated representative of the Police Chief),
and City Secretary Patrice Fogarty
Staff Members Present: Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins, Chief Building Official Debbie
Wilmore, Assistant City Secretary Sharon Harris
1. Call to order.
Meeting called to order by Chairman Tim Tietjens at 3:05 p.m.
2. Roll call of members.
Committee Members Tim Tietjens, Patrice Fogarty, and Lt. Gary Rice were present for roll call.
3. Consider approval of July 10, 2012, meeting minutes.
Motion by Lt. Gary Rice to approve the Minutes of July 10, 2012. Second by Patrice Fogarty
Motion carried unanimously.
Chairman Tietjens recommended staff present a single staff report for the public hearings
associated with Agenda Items 4 and 6, as the two matters are related.
Motion by Patrice Fogarty to take the agenda out of order to conduct public hearings for both
Items 4 and 6 simultaneously. Second by Chairman Tietjens. Motion carried unanimously.
4. Conduct public hearing to consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits
issued to La Porte Automotive, Inc. in accordance with the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances.
A. Open public hearing
Chairman Tietjens opened the public hearing at 3:08 p.m.
B. Staff comments
Lt. Gary Rice read a series of emails he received describing instances where La Porte Automotive
would be dispatched for a tow and La Porte Towing would show up, and vice -versa. Lt. Rice also
mentioned a problem with double billing by both companies for the same tow. The error was
subsequently corrected.
C. Public comments
Bobby Slocum, 202 N. 11th Street, stated he was unaware there was a problem, but once he
became aware, he addressed the offense with his employee.
Wrecker Committee
Minutes of February 19, 2013
Page 2 of 3
Walt Jones, 1603 W. Main Street, stated he was aware there had been mix-ups on the scene
with call -outs, but he was not aware of the issue at hand. Mr. Jones would like the problems
resolved without any permits being suspended.
Charlie Hinds, Charlie Hinds Paint & Body, addressed the Committee. Mr: Hinds was not aware
of the meeting and suggested wrecker companies be emailed with meeting notifications. Mr.
Hinds believes the two companies are working as one company.
D. Close public hearing
Chairman Tietjens closed the public hearing at 3:22 p.m.
5. Consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte
Automotive, Inc.
Chairman Tietjens cited Section 78-223 of the Code of Ordinances referring to the regulatory
authority of the City.
Motion by Patrice Fogarty to impose a 30-day removal from the wrecker rotation for any towing
company that arrives on the scene having not been properly dispatched. The motion was
amended after discussion by the Committee and input from Assistant City Attorney Clark Askins,
as follows:
Patrice Fogarty moved to amend the motion stating that in the event it becomes necessary to
revisit the matter again, the Committee will consider a 60-day or greater suspension from the
wrecker call -out rotation for any towing company that arrives on the scene having not been
properly dispatched.
Second by Lt. Gary Rice. Motion carried unanimously.
No action was taken by the Committee to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La
Porte Automotive, Inc.
6. Conduct public hearing to consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits
issued to La Porte Towing, Inc. in accordance with the City of La Porte Code of Ordinances.
A. Open public hearing
Chairman Tietjens opened the public hearing at 3:22 p.m.
B. Staff comments
Staff comments were provided under Agenda Item 4B.
C. Public comments
Although public comments are shown under Agenda Item 4C, the public was again given the
opportunity to comment.
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Minutes of February 19, 2013
Page 3 of 3
Bobby Slocum, 202 N. 11th Street, stated La Porte Towing is separate from La Porte Automotive;
they are two completely different companies.
Charlie Hinds, Charlie Hinds Paint & Body, suggested staff check with TDLR to confirm whether
or not two licensed companies can utilize the same vehicle storage yard.
Mr. Slocum confirmed he is the owner of the vehicle storage yard. La Porte Automotive has
contracted with him to use the facility.
Walt Jones, 1603 W. Main Street, believes the wrecker companies are all trying to do the right
thing for the City/Police Department.
D. Close public hearing
Chairman Tietjens closed the public hearing at 3:30 p.m.
7. Consider possible action to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La Porte Towing,
Inc.
Motion by Patrice Fogarty stating that in the event it becomes necessary to revisit the matter
again, the Committee will consider a 60-day or greater suspension from the wrecker call -out
rotation for any towing company that arrives on the scene having not been properly dispatched.
Second by Chairman Tietjens. Motion carried unanimously.
No action was taken by the Committee to suspend, cancel, or revoke wrecker permits issued to La
Porte Towing, Inc.
8. Administrative Reports
There were no Administrative Reports.
9. Committee comments on matters appearing on agenda or inquiry of staff regarding specific
factual information or existing policy.
There were no Committee comments.
10. Adjourn.
Chairman Tietjens adjourned the meeting at 3:56 p.m.
Prepared by Peggy Lee, Office Coordinator